It's late and my thoughts are rambling....

[Trekon86]

But the more I think about this the more I feel full of wonderment.

 

I think it's really interesting how RJ wove elements of our world into the books. That's probably what makes them so believable and seemingly realistic. We can recognize characters in people we know personally or people we have knowledge of. We all know someone like Nynaeve, whose short temper gets in the way of her long-term goals, but who continually mothers people her age. And we recognize Perrin and Master Luhhan, when we think of an older brother, father, uncle or grandfather whose physical strength and quiet demeanor belies his soft heart and shrewd mind. Tam Al'Thor bears a striking resemblance to many ex-military men who came home after WWII or Vietnam and tried to forget the horrors of war, never speaking of their experiences, unselfishly burying their awful memories so deep that it only shows when their are feverishly ill or having flashbacks.

 

Faile is a classic--the kind of woman who knows what she wants and will stalk you to get it. Elayne is recognizeable as the rich kid who grew up practically isolated from the rest of the world but is sure she understands the common man. Perhaps you had a neighbor like her, with her nose perpetually in the air? Haha..

 

Weaponry of the WOT series also follows similar lines of imagination and reality.

 

The Aiel short spear and buckler system, for instance, was no doubt inspired by the Zulu assegai and bullhide buckler, while the heron mark sword concept was, I would think, heavily influenced by the Japanese katana and wakizashi. Perrin's spiked half-moon battle axe would have been prized by the Anglo-Saxon foot legions, and the knife, sling, bow and quarterstaff were all common weapons historically--the weapons of peasants, who were not permitted (nor was it economically feasible) to own swords or other professional pieces. Not only were they easily explainable, but highly effective--not only for defending kin and property, but also for poaching rabbits, deer and boar from private lands.

 

It amazes me that one man (Robert Jordan) could have been as knowledgeable about history and peoples so as to pull it all together and reprocess it, adding his own imaginatory twists and turns, in the form of a 12+ book series.

 

Incredible.

 

Your thoughts?

 

PMZ

 

[Blackhoof]

You know, your right.

 

There is also the Age of Legends, which is in my opinion a twist of our time, with the Power and Ter-angreal used instead of electricity.

[Nightstrike]

Age of Legends seems even better than our time. One Power instead of fossile fuels or nuclear power. Clean, probably renewable in every way, energy that can be used efficiently. No wars. No famine. Probably lots of progress in every area imaginable. Ogier singing, and so on. That would have been great. But probably not much to read about, because I'd say there weren't much OP battles and trollocs that could make things interesting for us reader. :P

[Hallow]

You know, your right.

 

There is also the Age of Legends, which is in my opinion a twist of our time, with the Power and Ter-angreal used instead of electricity.

 

It's fairly well established that the first age (the one before AOL) is our age. The giants Mosk and Meric fighting with lances that reached all around the world (Moscow and America with nuclear missiles) and some queen that is a blatant reference to elizabeth the first or something or the other.

 

And seeing as the AOL started when channeling was discovered it's safe to say that Randland is supposed to be our world far far far into the future.

[fikkie77]

*starts channeling and calls himself Tamyrlin*

[Blackhoof]

In my opinion I dont think that channeling was 'discovered', I think that there always were channelers, but they were unorganised, primitive, and often spontaneously exploded.

[Hallow]

In my opinion I dont think that channeling was 'discovered', I think that there always were channelers, but they were unorganised, primitive, and often spontaneously exploded.

 

In one of the Questions of the Week at the Tor web site Jordan suggests that channeling was first discovered at the end of the First Age

 

I took the liberty of bolding out the good part :)

 

Source: http://www.sevenspokes.com/chronology/1st.html

[Trekon86]

You know, I wonder...is there a similar trick to the "Flame and Void" in reality?

Perhaps something one could learn in the martial arts...

:)

PMZ

[Blackhoof]

I've tried doing it, but it doesn't work; the problem with not thinking about something is that you are technicaly thinking about it while trying to not think about it.... it might be possible, to a ninja or some tie-qwan-do expert, but for us average joes, i dont think we could become unaware of our bodies like Void-users do.

[Mr Ares]

It amazes me that one man could have been as knowledgeable about history and peoples so as to pull it all together and reprocess it, adding his own imaginatory twists and turns, in the form of a 12+ book series.

Yes, it truly is incredible that a knowledge of history, a good grasp of characters, some imagination and the ability to write could all be found in one man, who would go on to produce a twelve book series, cut unfortunately short by his untimely death. We miss you, George MacDonald Fraser.

[Blackhoof]

Who?

[Mr Ares]

George macDonald Fraser, author of the Flashman Papers, a series of historical novles written as the memoirs of Harry Flashman, a coward and bully who finds himself, despite his best efforts, in the middle of various Victorian wars, and comes out of all of them covered in undeserved glory. Fraser wrote 12 Flashamn novels before his death. They are well written, known for their historical accuracy, and occasionally very funny.

[Blackhoof]

Never heard of him.

 

It is not that unbelievable that someone can have that much knowledge of history; its not hard to spend a few weeks studying. Or maybe some of the parralels you see are coincidental, and not intentional. probably not, but maybe.

[Mr Ares]

Never heard of him.

You have now. G and get yourself a copy of Flashman.

 

It is not that unbelievable that someone can have that much knowledge of history; its not hard to spend a few weeks studying.

Probably more than a few weeks.

[Jaric Mar Tedronai]

A trick similar to the flame and the void was first published in a Roald Dahl book, i cant remember the name but it was a story about an Indian who could see without using his eyes. Its remarkably similar though, if im remembering correctly, to the point that the man in the story uses it to fire walk as well, similar to how Rand doesnt really feel pain while in the void.

[pxnsolid]

i stared at a candle for weeks after reading that story when i was a kid.

[Blackhoof]

I guess only certain people can learn it.  :)

 

BTW, firewalking does not actually hurt like you would imagine. The trick is to step lightly and carefully; all the heat is below the actual coals, if you dont step too heavily, you should never get burned.